Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 306: Chapter 67

Ruth snatched the parchments from Albern before Maxi could get a proper glimpse.

“You shameless dog!” Albern fumed, leaping to his feet. “How dare you take those from me?!”

“Oh, give it a rest. It’s not like I’ll piss on them.’

“Don’t test me! Do you have any idea the trouble I went to copy those?! I won’t have the deserter reap the fruits of my labor! ”

His face red with rage, Albern snatched the parchments back.

Ruth glowered sullenly at him. “Aren’t we supposed to study the runes to figure out how to negate them? I should think I would be our best bet.”

Albern snorted as he rolled up the parchments and shoved them into his bag. ‘Why would I ask for the help of a man who abandoned the Tower, saying he couldn’t bear to waste away his life on research? Especially when there are others who have dedicated their lives to this very cause without once doubting their commitments! ”

Knowing that they had ventured into an unfavorable topic, Ruth snapped his mouth closed and slunk off to a corner.

After watching him go with disapproval, Calto turned to Albern and Geoffrey. “You have done a tremendous deed, of which I am proud. But I must ask — how on earth did you infiltrate the monster city undetected?”

“We used an illusion spell,” Geoffrey replied with a proud grin. “It came to mind when Sir Riftan asked if there was some kind of magic to trick monsters. The wyvrern farm is located in the middle of a rocky mountain connected to the castle, and we found a tunnel leading out of the city for the disposal of wyvern excrement. That’s when we decided to sneak in. Of course, we studied the layout with magic first. ‘

“It was certainly a high-risk plan,” Albern said. “An illusion allows us to trick a monster’s eyes, but, as you know, it’s difficult to deceive all their senses. That’s why it required so many steps before we got in, and it’s why we took so long.” Hebaron eyed the mage quizzically. “How exactly did you fool the monsters?”

“By… a rather gruesome method.”

A strange expression that was neither scowl nor smile rose on Albern’s face. His eyes darted to Riftan. The commander of the Remdragon Knights, however, appeared uninterested in the conversation. He was standing with them, chomping on a piece of jerky. When he showed no inclination to elaborate, Albern smiled wryly and recounted their plan.

“We first sneaked up the rock face to gauge how many monsters were managing the farm and how many were guarding the ramparts. Fifteen or so trolls took turns guarding during the day, and werewolves regularly patrolled the walls at night. We waited until nightfall and seized a werewolf. Then we…” Albern hesitated, “skinned the monster so we could wear its pelt.” Noises of disgust erupted from those listening. Maxi made a face.

“I believe I know whose idea that was,” Kuahel muttered, eyeing Riftan cynically.

Albern nodded. “It was Sir Riftan’s idea. As you all know, werewolf fur has a distinct… stench. Sir Riftan believed the illusion spell plan would work so long as we masked our scent, and he was quite right.”

“We decided that the three of us — Albern, Sir Riftan, and I — would be the ones to sneak into the wyvern farm,” Geoffrey added. “It was a clumsy disguise, but it worked. We cut up the pelt and affixed it to ourselves, along with the monster’s clothes and weapons. We then used an illusion spell to slip past the sentries at the tunnel entrance. Sidina monitored the sentries’ movements from outside and kept me informed through a communication spell. Thanks to her efforts, we were able to copy the runes without getting caught. But the whole endeavor took too long, and we were out of provisions by then. To top it off, on our way back, we had three separate monster encounters. Hence our ghastly state. It was a precarious situation indeed, traversing a mountain through hunger and exhaustion.”

Pausing momentarily, Geoffrey looked down at the unconscious Sidina, Ulyseon, and the Temple Knight. His eyes watering, he muttered, “l thought we were done for when we encountered the lamias, so I’m glad help arrived in time.”

His last words made Maxi shudder. Had they arrived a moment later, the situation would have been tragically different. She was contemplating the chilling possibilities when Riftan broke his silence.

“I would like to be briefed about the state of the expeditionary party. What are you doing here? And what of our men?”

Hebaron scratched his head at Riftan’s questioning glare. “We sent most of the party to Eth Lene Castle as a precaution in case the monsters have learned of our presence. The remaining members are waiting at the ruins. We, too, will head to Eth Lene as soon as we return.’

“And what about the food supply? ‘

“It would be great if we met up with the supply party on our way, but I think we’ll manage even if we don’t.”

Riftan furrowed his brow at Hebaron’s attempt to gloss over their dire situation. Before he could say anything, the burly knight jumped to his feet.

“Those lamias getting away doesn’t sit right with me. I’ll scout the area one more time before it gets dark. You three set up camp. We’re stuck here for the day anyway.”

At his command, the knights went to retrieve the bedrolls outside the cave. Worry was etched over Elliot’s face as he looked down at Ulyseon.

Rising to his feet as well, he said, “Let me join you.’

‘You should rest. You look terrible.”

Elliot glanced down at his bloodstained clothes, then lightly scratched his cheek as if only just realizing that his face was caked in dried blood.

“I’m sure I’m a ghastly sight,” he said with a bitter smile. “Try to bear with it a little longer. You’ll be able to enjoy a lavish, hot spring bath when we return.”

Hebaron left with his weapon, and the mages made preparations to spend the night inside the cave. With the assistance of the knights, they helped the wounded out of their bloodied clothes and armor and laid them down on rush mats.

Maxi covered them with blankets, then walked toward the cave entrance, pot in hand, to boil more water. This time, Riftan did not stop her. His eyes remained resolutely shut. Maxi swept a tender gaze over his weary figure before moving on. Outside, the Temple Knights were setting up a makeshift stable near the entrance.

After watching them for a moment, Maxi scanned her surroundings and found a fresh mound of snow behind a boulder. She was walking over to it to scoop some into the pot when somebody hoisted her off the ground.

Just as she went to scream, a hot tongue slid into her mouth. Her eyes widened. Riftan pressed her against the boulder, pinning her to it with his torso. He slipped a hand beneath her arms and lifted her to his level. Then his tongue slid deeper, and her thoughts scattered completely.

Lost in titillating pleasure, Maxi pulled her husband even closer. Every time he gently sucked on her tongue, her lower abdomen tightened, and her breasts grew taut. She watched him remove his gloves. Slipping his fingers inside her coat, he began to caress her.

Maxi writhed. She was burning up despite the cold that seeped through her clothes.

‘Why didn’t you leave for Eth Lene?” Riftan mumbled as he finally broke free of their kiss.

She looked at him in surprise. His eyes were grim, and she caught a hint of anger in them. The heat that had engulfed her cooled instantly.

“Are you… admonishing me for coming to find you? ‘

“There was no reason for you to come.”

Staring at him incredulously, her face flushed with anger. She shoved his chest.

“I-I can’t believe this!’

He leaned back but maintained his grip on her. She glowered at him, incensed, and started pounding his chest with her fists.

“D-D-Do you know h -how worried I was? After… putting me through such distress, that’s all you have to—?”

Scowling, Riftan grabbed her arms, which only fanned her rage. Unable to use her upper body, she kicked his shin. To her great frustration, he did not even bat an eyelid as if he had anticipated the assault. He shoved his thigh between her legs, restraining her even more.

“I am at my limit,” he growled into her ear. “How much more must I tolerate? Didn’t that gruesome scene in the cave knock some sense into you? Or does your stubbornness come from your failure to understand just how much danger we are in?”

“I-I wouldn’t have needed to take such a risk.. if you had arrived at the agreed-upon date!”

Riftan let out an incredulous laugh as if Maxi coming to his rescue was a ridiculous notion.

She felt something snap within her.

“W -Why are you looking at me like that?! D-Do you not… take on dangerous tasks all the time? Your last mission was no different! Who in their right mind infiltrates a city r-r-rife with monsters? Yet you still think… you have the r-right to criticize me?”

“Do you hear yourself right now? I am a knight! It is my duty to face danger.”

“A-And I am a mage! It is my duty to help the fool who rushes headlong into danger!”

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